tyre wear

Guest · Oct 22, 2004

What is a reasonable mileage to go through a set of rear tyres? I've had my first boxster for 9 months and have gone through a pair of continentals (new on receipt) in about 7k miles. Is this normal? Admittedly I have been 'enjoying' my car, but not anything excessive. Wear is even on each tyre and biased to the inboard circumference (as I would expect due to the camber, I think).

Also, I've not been very impressed with the conti's, especially in the wet. Any other opinions on this brand?

JCB.. · Oct 22, 2004

I've had my first boxster for 9 months and have gone through a pair of continentals (new on receipt) in about 7k miles.

I have had Conti's for the last 55k miles no probs wet or dry.

Please don't take offence but if you have gone through the rears in 7k miles I reckon the problem is with your driving, not the the tyres. I get about 12-15k out of the rears, 20-25 the fronts

JCB..

Mark_Bennett · Oct 22, 2004

I have to admit, that I have the Contrinentals on my car, and compared to the Pirelli's I had before, I don't like them. They seem uncommunicative and lacking in "feel".
I felt far happier on the Pirellis.

(Just to show we Register Secs don't agree all the time[

])

I don't know how you can get only 7K either I would expect at least double that.

thboxster · Oct 22, 2004

I would hope for more than that.

Admittedly I have Pilot Sports and I don't know how they compare, but I pushed mine to 24k and when they all got changed they were all just about legal.

JCB.. · Oct 22, 2004

They seem uncommunicative and lacking in "feel".

I've never had that problem, particularly with the trackday settings, on the Contact II's or the previous ones. I never had the trackday settings when I had the Pilots on.

I had a complete set all around this time and currently the car and I are as one, mean and dirty![&:]

JCB..

Mark_Bennett · Oct 22, 2004

I know John, I just felt happier with the Pirellis (same settings!).

I guess that it might be a personal preference thing - not all drivers will "gel" with the same spec?

Looking at the Porsche tyre test results (in the FAQ), the Conti's are supposed to suit my "intended use", but I don't like 'em.
Porsche say they are good - so it must be me[>:]

JCB.. · Oct 22, 2004

I know John, I just felt happier with the Pirellis (same settings!).

I have trouble spelling Pirelli![8D]

Guest · Oct 22, 2004

no offence taken re driving style, I was concerned too when I observed the wear rate. Most of my driving has been in heavy traffic through the week (i.e. slow with no corners)with a run in the country at the week end, but nothing particularly agressive. In light of your experience with tyre aear, could there be anything wrong with my suspension set up? How could I check?

thanks

Guest · Oct 22, 2004

I got 17-18k out of my last set of conti's

I reckon first thing to do is get the alignment checked and take it from there.

Is the wear even on the tyres?

JCB.. · Oct 23, 2004

In light of your experience with tyre wear, could there be anything wrong with my suspension set up? How could I check?

Keith

Find a good tyre shop for a full alignment - if you like "driving" then I recommend Nic Doczi's trackday settings which are essentially all four wheels pointing dead ahead and as much negative camber as you can get.

However bad alignment normally manifests itself with dodgy handling and uneven tyre wear.

I do get uneven wear on the fronts with my current settings, inner wears on both fronts because of the - camber, but I'm still on a 2:1 rear/front

Tyre pressure is also very important I run f32 r34 cold.

JCB..

evoke · Oct 23, 2004

I recently sold my MY03 Boxster after doing 19,000 miles on the original set of Michelin Pilot Sports. The BMW dealer I sold it to didn't believe they were the originals as they still had another 4000-5000 miles left in them (the rears that is). The fronts were still like new, I kid you not.

It was a manual and was driven quite hard but never really thrashed. I think it is partially down to the tyre itself as the Michelin's are usually more expensive than other brands.

Taz

Brian Halling · Oct 24, 2004

Tyre wear is definitely a function of how the car is driven. My first set of Continentals lasted for 16K - when I was treating my new car with respect. The second set of Continentals rather less. I had the tyres replaced in anticipation of our annual Alpine blast. Two weeks and just 2,500 miles later when I returned to the OPC for a new windscreen I was informed that the tyres were now over half used with barely 4mm in places on the fronts. Granted I had turned the front discs pink on occasions, but the facts speak for themselves.

My third set are Pirelli Pzeros and seem much more resilient. Hopefully my 987 will arrive before they wear out.

Carl.Young · Oct 24, 2004

ORIGINAL: Brian Halling

Tyre wear is definitely a function of how the car is driven.

And the kinds of road your normal driving takes in. If it's mainly motorway then they'll last longer. Most of my driving this year has been back roads (wonder why) - my current (rear) Yokahamas have done 8k and look as though there's only another 2k left. I consider myself a 'spirited' driver, however I recognise where my limits are so I'm not a nutter. I'm aware of Yokohama's old reputation of being a very soft compound, but I do like them a lot - very sticky in the dry and very progressive in the wet.

Guest · Oct 25, 2004

Find a good tyre shop for a full alignment - if you like "driving" then I recommend Nic Doczi's trackday settings which are essentially all four wheels pointing dead ahead and as much negative camber as you can get....

I do get uneven wear on the fronts with my current settings, inner wears on both fronts because of the - camber, but I'm still on a 2:1 rear/front

Tyre pressure is also very important I run f32 r34 cold.

JCB..

JCB

I got 17k out of my first set of Pilot Sports and changed to Nic's settings with the new set. I am also experiencing greater wear on the inner edge after another 7k, would you recommend swapping the fronts with each other to even things out?

Guest · Oct 25, 2004

Keith

Find a good tyre shop for a full alignment - if you like "driving" then I recommend Nic Doczi's trackday settings which are essentially all four wheels pointing dead ahead and as much negative camber as you can get.

However bad alignment normally manifests itself with dodgy handling and uneven tyre wear.

I do get uneven wear on the fronts with my current settings, inner wears on both fronts because of the - camber, but I'm still on a 2:1 rear/front

Tyre pressure is also very important I run f32 r34 cold.

JCB..

[/quote]

Thanks. I'm going to get the allignment checked out when I fit the new tyres. The fronts still have at least 5-6mm (1k less miles) which I think is vindication that all may not be wrong with my driving style. My car never even feels close to understeering and has felt not quite hooked up at the rear once or twice.

I remember reading in the register column about 18 months ago that you recommended 2 psi difference front to rear. What benefit does droping the rear pressure by 2psi have? Did you establish this by trying out different seetings at a track?

Unfortunately, I'm an engineer and like to understand why and how..... although car suspension is not my area of expertise as you may have gathered!

thanks

Keith

Guest · Oct 25, 2004

Keith

Like you, My first set of rear tyres "Michelen Piolet Sports" lasted only 10K miles. I have to admit though, I was so impressed with the cornering ability, I got a little addicted. This next set seem to be lasting a little better, but the fronts are still the originals with lots of tread left on them. Still only covered 12K miles though.

JCB.. · Oct 26, 2004

I am also experiencing greater wear on the inner edge after another 7k, would you recommend swapping the fronts with each other to even things out?

No because they will still be wearing on the inner edge!

JCB..

JCB.. · Oct 26, 2004

I remember reading in the register column about 18 months ago that you recommended 2 psi difference front to rear. What benefit does droping the rear pressure by 2psi have? Did you establish this by trying out different seetings at a track?

Keith

I have tracked the car but not nearly as much as Nic who still regularly does in his GT3. The 2lb differential was on his recommedation - I'll see if he can offer so words of wisdom.

JCB..

Guest · Oct 28, 2004

found lots of good info when trying the link for "N rated tyres"in the "useful links" thread at the top of the forum. The link is out of date and can now be found at

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/porsche.jsp

The drop down at this location also has lots of other interesting technical articles e.g. effect of tyre pressure variance in the wet, dry and suspension geometry effects etc (sorry if you are aware of this already!).

Anyway, cannot source replacement N rated conti's in the UK on internet, local tyre suppliers or OPC to match the fronts. Phoned up continental and they can't say when they will be available and are not taking orders for them!

Unfortunately, this means I have to buy a full set of other brands[

] and keep the part worn fronts to live another day....or sell on e-bay to somebody who needs them to match his rears. Thinking of trying the Goodyear F1GSD3 after reading the Autocar tyre test report last week. They seem reasonably priced and are best suited to the great british weather!

thanks for all the responses to the thread

cheers

Keith